We’re excited to introduce Piper Hays! Everyone on The Leakey Collection Team who has met Piper, both in East Africa and Southern California, has been delighted by her passion and enthusiasm! A deep mutual respect and friendship with the Maasai artisans developed during her 5 week visit with the Leakeys in the Rift Valley to learn about Fair Trade. Over the next month or so, we will be sharing Piper’s insights through her guest blog, as well as her perspective through photos and interview videos with the people whose lives are positively impacted by our Fair Trade partnership with them. Piper even designed a special Zulugrass collection that we are featuring on our website! Check out the Pied Piper Collection here! Prepare to be just as delighted as we are!

In her second year at the University of San Francisco, Piper is studying communications, anthropology, and German. Along with her interest in travel and learning about different cultures, Piper is an accomplished musician! She sings and plays 4 instruments: guitar, mandolin, piano, and even the ukulele which she took to Kenya and used to bond musically with her new friends. She has a love for all-things-glitter and is never without her Fairy Glitter bottle, blessing those she meets with a little application because “everybody needs to shine.” She now proclaims herself the Fair Trade Fairy! Make sure you check back each week to read her blogs and for a surprise contest!

We’ve shared some information about Katy and Philip’s sustainable lifestyle before. They’ve been growing their own vegetables and fruits, along with tilapia farming and honey harvesting, etc. for quite a while. But over the past few years, they’ve branched out into big-time farming with their Maasai partners, along with processing food items!

Last summer Katy shared one of her special recipes – her Chia Seed Salad Dressing - that uses items from their harvest. Make sure you check out the link, then scroll down for a new recipe using healthy, farm fresh ingredients!

On the Olkerii Farm, they have fruit trees: figs, pineapples, papaya, and pomegranates. Along other fruits and chia, the farm grows vegetables such as tomatoes, chard, shallots, and more! Not only do they have a thriving business selling the crops but also produce such food items as jams and chutneys! What a remarkable work opportunity in East Africa! In addition, the importance of a good healthy diet is taught through a program partially supported by the sales of Beads for Healthy Gardens. This is one of many things YOU support with your purchases, and through 7/21/16 you can Buy One and Get a Second One Half Off for a friend!

Try this SUMMER QUINOA AND FRESH VEGGIE SALAD WITH HONEY-SHALLOT VINAIGRETTE and let us know how it turns out!

INGREDIENTS:

FOR THE HONEY-SHALLOT VINAIGRETTE:

½ c. freshly squeezed lemon juice

½ c. rice vinegar

2 T. honey

½ c. minced shallots

¼ tsp. kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper, to taste

2/3 c. olive oil

FOR THE SALAD:

1 c. uncooked red quinoa

2 c. chopped English cucumber

2 c. halved grape tomatoes

1 medium yellow bell pepper, chopped

raw kernels cut from 2 large ears of sweet corn

3 green onions, chopped

¼ c. fresh chopped parsley

¼ c. fresh chopped mint

Fresh Spinach and/or Spring Mix

DIRECTIONS:

FOR THE HONEY-SHALLOT VINAIGRETTE:

Combine lemon juice, rice vinegar, honey, shallots, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Let sit while preparing the rest of the salad. When ready to serve the salad, add the olive oil to the vinaigrette mixture, mix and add to salad.

FOR THE SALAD:

Prepare quinoa according to package directions and allow to cool completely.

In a large bowl, fold together cooked and cooled quinoa, cucumber, tomatoes, bell pepper, sweet corn, green onions. Drizzle about ¾ cup of the honey-shallot vinaigrette over the salad mixture and fold to combine. Then fold in the parsley and mint.

Place a layer of the Spring Mix and/or Baby Spinach Blend on a platter. Spoon salad mixture over the greens and use additional black pepper and mint if desired.

We know you are protecting yourself with hats and sunscreen, but sometimes you may still overdo that sun exposure! Did you know that Marula Oil has been used for hundreds of years by women in Africa to heal minor burns, to soothe redness, swelling and irritation, as well as a highly valued moisturizer for radiant skin? Not only does it fight free-radicals that cause premature skin aging with its extremely high concentration of antioxidants and fatty acids, Omega 6 and 9 but is great for sunburn!

Of course, durable, water-proof, lightweight Zulugrass is THE jewelry for water activities, whether it’s surfing, water-skiing, or relaxing by the pool with a cool drink in your hand. Our Duetsor Style To Gohave several color options to provide a little sizzle for your summer wardrobe.

Summer usually means vacations and trips, and the dilemma of what to pack! One of our team members traveled to Spain for 2 weeks in April, and she has compiled a list of her favorite tips for packing smart and enjoying your trip:

The most important thing: TRAVEL LIGHT. According to travel expert, Rick Steves, there are 2 kinds of travelers: those who pack light and those who wish they had! Travel light = ONE CARRY-ON BAG. Whaaaat you ask? Here are some reasons why:

You’ll walk with your luggage more than you think you will or you will find your Airbnb accomodations are on the 5th floor…with no elevator. Trust me on this.

No spending money for checked luggage that could be used to buy that beautiful rendering by a local artist of the charming village you visited.

You’re more flexible when plans change, either for unforeseen travel complications or spontaneous exploration of a site or town that you had no idea was so fascinating or beautiful or fun.

You’re not burdened down when you are dashing madly and breathlessly to catch the last train of the day.

Less chance of it getting lost or stolen or of you being targeted by pickpockets because you are struggling with an oversized bag whose wheels won’t cooperate over sidewalks or cobble-stone streets.

Does all that sound good, but you have no clue HOW to do it? Here were the best ideas I found that worked for me:

Find a convertible, carry-on-size soft backpack that can expand. Mine was 21″ x 14″ x 9″ which fit the European specifications for carry-on bags. If necessary, it could have been checked as a regular suitcase, but shoulder straps and a waist belt were securely tucked away in a pocket ready to be converted to a backpack. Totally saved the day. See #1 – #4 above.

Don’t pack over 20-22 pounds. Again, see #1 – #4 above.

Stack your clothes on top of each other and roll, rather than fold them. They don’t wrinkle as much. There are many YouTube videos to help you figure this out.

Use packing cubes to corral your smaller items.

Plan a capsule wardrobe. Choose neutrals such as black and gray or brown and tans. Choose 1 or 2 brighter colors that will coordinate with each other. I took gray, black, bright blues, with a bit of coral, then mixed, matched, and layered them for different looks everyday. I packed 1 pair of jeans, 2 pairs of leggings that could be worn with my longer tops or under my knit skirt, 2 t-shirts, 2 tunics, 1 tank, one long-sleeved top, one sweater, and took a raincoat. Along with my lightweight accessories mentioned next.

Accessorize simply. One or 2 lightweight scarves that match your capsule wardrobe not only brighten up an outfit but can double as a blanket on plane rides or as a skirt, head wrap or shawl to cover your shoulders when visiting venues that have strict dress requirements, such as cathedrals. Of course, Style to Go Zulugrass is THE BEST travel jewelry! It is super light, takes up very little room, gives you many options for color, and can be taken off your wrist and given to a host, helpful flight attendant, or new friend. The Leakey Collection even has a couple of Special Edition sets to inspire your travels, in extremely limited quantities so check them out while they’re still available.

Plan the bare minimum of clothes that you think you’re going to need. Then take out a few things. Again, trust me on this. I could have easily gotten by with 2 or 3 things less than I took.

Pack a small, foldable shopping bag to bring back any souvenirs you will cherish or small gifts for people. If there is something large you think you must have, consider having it shipped to your home.

From an intimate tête–à–tête dinner or picnic to a big BBQ, family reunion or cocktail party, summer means dining alfresco! We’ve gathered 7 great tips for making it a magical way to enjoy the long summer evenings ahead without stress!

Keep the food simple. Start off with a small, delicious appetizer like a gourmet wine and cheese platter. A rotisserie chicken from your local market, combined with easy side dishes, allows you to spend time with your guests!

Make wind less of an issue. Skip the tablecloth in favor of easy placemats.

Mix and match plates, bowls, glasses,and napkins. Have fun with different types of seating: indoor chairs, stools, benches with cushions.

Use natural items for serving and displaying, such as wood, baskets, and pottery.

Skip the pricey flowers and decorate your table with succulents or small plants and herbs from your garden. Let the beauty of nature be your guide and enjoy them all summer!

Off-the-shoulder style and peek-a-boo shoulder cut-outs are one of 2016′s BIGGEST fashion trends, providing “Elegance with a Dash of Daring!” This neckline can range from sitting just at or well below the shoulders and flatters most body types. It just calls for earrings to accentuate the feminine curve of a neck and shoulder. That’s why you need plenty of earrings! Luckily, we have several styles to choose from!

The pastoral Maasai are some of the happiest people on earth, joyously celebrating life’s special occasions. They have very close community and family ties so our wish for you this holiday season is the same – that you would have the opportunity to make your celebrations full of that joy and peace with plenty of time to spend with the people you love.

We here at The Leakey Collection are so thankful for all of you who partner with us to Make a Better World.

Designed to raise global awareness and fundraising support, cause-awareness days and months mark time periods on the calendar when a particular social issue is highlighted for special attention. Each person and organization has a heart for different causes that are important to them. Obviously, The Leakey Collection is passionate about women and empowerment issues across the globe. Over the past fifteen years of running our fair-trade business in rural Africa, we have witnessed some wonderful changes in areas that we never expected. One such area is a dramatic decrease in domestic violence. Although that wasn’t one of our initial goals, it was a direct result of our efforts.

“Fair Trade companies around the world concur that domestic violence abates in households when women can become financially independent contributors.” Katy Leakey

Most definitions of domestic abuse include “a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner.” Of course, the issue of domestic violence is NOT ever simple nor do we want to suggest that. But we do want you to know that providing work opportunity for the Maasai women in Kenya and other communities around the world can help. And we thank you.

The recent International Day of the Girlreally made us think about how empowering & educating women & girls can change the world! This year’s theme of “The Power of the Adolescent Girl: Vision for 2030″ addresses the fact that adolescent girls have the right to a safe, educated, and healthy life, but also that “If effectively supported during the adolescent years, girls have the potential to CHANGE THE WORLD – both as the empowered girls of today and as tomorrow’s workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads, and political leaders.” Powerful words!

Studies show that when an educated girl or woman earns income, she reinvests 90% of it into her family. She prioritizes food, medicine, and education for her children. In one of our recent videos about The Leakey Collection’s early days, our founder Katy Leakey shared that even the Maasai men eventually acknowledged: “The women spend the money on the RIGHT THINGS. They put the kids in school. They buy the food.”

Mandy Moore wrote in ONE.org: “Each additional year of secondary school can increase a woman’s earnings by 10 to 20 percent, and that increase yields real profits for the countries they live in. When 10 percent more women in a country complete secondary education, the country’s annual per capita income grows by 3 percent. Investing in women and girls makes economic sense.”

We believe in this so firmly that not only is our mission to empower our female Maasai artisans through entrepreneurial ventures, but we are working to keep young adolescent rural girls, who tend to drop out of school before completing their primary education, on track toward graduation. A portion of the proceeds from each Beads for Girls Graduationbracelet is donated by The Leakey Collection to our Girls Graduation counseling program, as well as toward a girls’ scholarship fund.

As a member of the Fair Trade Federation, The Leakey Collection is fully committed to the principles listed above in all of our transactions. These principles were created by using the global principles of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) as their foundation.

Our Fair Trade Federation membership means we go beyond the fair trade basics. It’s a 360° approach that’s about building true partnerships with artisans and working to create positive change through all of our work. 360° fair trade means not only fair wages, but also long-term, holistic partnerships that empower artisans to grow their businesses. As an FTF member, we go through a rigorous screening that looks at our whole business. We call it 360° fair trade, meaning that we’re committed to being fair and responsible in everything we do — socially, economically, and environmentally. We practice 360° fair trade, which means we take a more holistic approach than only looking at wages and work conditions. We partner with artisans and make a long-term commitment to helping grow businesses and strengthen communities. We’re proud to practice 360° fair trade. We build true partnerships with producers and act responsibly in all of our work: socially, economically, and environmentally.

The month of October is Fair Trade Month. There are many options to buy fair trade products wherever you shop so make your purchases mindfully. “Every time you spend money, you’re casting a vote for the kind of world you want to live in.” Anna Lappe